1
as in bins
a covered rectangular container for storing or transporting things
filled a whole box with books
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in coffins
a boxlike container for holding a dead body
the only way I'm ever leaving this hospital room is in a box
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in TVs
an electronic device with a screen and speakers that reproduces images and sound
would you switch on the box so that we can watch the news?
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in pickles
a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape
with our new home still unfinished, and the buyers of our condo eager to move in, we were in a real box
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in punches
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
the vicious bully delivered a box to the child's ear
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in clips
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
his mother threatened to box his ears if he didn't show a bit more respect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of boxes
Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
This special set includes two chirashi boxes, a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
What got centered were the perfunctory tasks government defaults to when everyone is stretched thin — checking the legal and regulatory boxes for approval, designing detour protocols, posting the orange signs in the right places and marking the lane closures clearly.
—Andrew Chrismer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Many of us have dreamed of stepping into Carrie Bradshaw’s walk-in closet and surveying a sea of Manolo Blahnik shoe boxes.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2026
Baby boxes have been installed in 20 states so far, according to Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Officers from Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension removed boxes from some locations.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
However, pit toilets, picnic tables, water and food storage boxes are provided.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
The capsule’s electronic boxes will be removed and recycled, along with research equipment.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Julia Gomez, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Nick Phillips, with Applied Digital, said the tax exemption ban effectively boxes out data centers from building in South Dakota.
—Makenzie Huber, States Newsroom, 19 Feb. 2026
The rich Redfellows get dispatched one by one in scenes that are fun but empty — neither cathartic nor comic, simply boxes to be checked off to great big poundings of thunder and harpsichords.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Toe tap on the sideline for 17, then boxes out Greg Newsome for 14 more.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
This, alas, also boxes his constituents in.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
To mark the occasion, Crumbl is also releasing limited-edition Martha Stewart boxes for its six-pack orders — perfect for gifting or adding a touch of elegance to any gathering.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
This all played out just after the museum had opened, with bystanders able to video one suspect in a high-visibility vest standing at one of the glass boxes housing historical treasures.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
That confusion is further reflected by the manic hyper-subjectivity of Bronstein’s filmmaking, which boxes Linda into a close-up so tight that everything around her — especially her unnamed daughter, who almost never appears on screen — might as well be a disembodied echo of her own anxiety.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
People drove up and opened trunks to reveal boxes and shopping bags full of ancient yellowed papers.
—Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
This special set includes two chirashi boxes, a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne.
—Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
What got centered were the perfunctory tasks government defaults to when everyone is stretched thin — checking the legal and regulatory boxes for approval, designing detour protocols, posting the orange signs in the right places and marking the lane closures clearly.
—Andrew Chrismer, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Many of us have dreamed of stepping into Carrie Bradshaw’s walk-in closet and surveying a sea of Manolo Blahnik shoe boxes.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2026
Baby boxes have been installed in 20 states so far, according to Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
—Mikayla Bunnell, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Officers from Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension removed boxes from some locations.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
However, pit toilets, picnic tables, water and food storage boxes are provided.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
The capsule’s electronic boxes will be removed and recycled, along with research equipment.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
The cardboard boxes the food is packaged in are also being resold online, with one user selling them for $15 each.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Nick Phillips, with Applied Digital, said the tax exemption ban effectively boxes out data centers from building in South Dakota.
—Makenzie Huber, States Newsroom, 19 Feb. 2026
The rich Redfellows get dispatched one by one in scenes that are fun but empty — neither cathartic nor comic, simply boxes to be checked off to great big poundings of thunder and harpsichords.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Toe tap on the sideline for 17, then boxes out Greg Newsome for 14 more.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
This, alas, also boxes his constituents in.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
To mark the occasion, Crumbl is also releasing limited-edition Martha Stewart boxes for its six-pack orders — perfect for gifting or adding a touch of elegance to any gathering.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025
This all played out just after the museum had opened, with bystanders able to video one suspect in a high-visibility vest standing at one of the glass boxes housing historical treasures.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2025
That confusion is further reflected by the manic hyper-subjectivity of Bronstein’s filmmaking, which boxes Linda into a close-up so tight that everything around her — especially her unnamed daughter, who almost never appears on screen — might as well be a disembodied echo of her own anxiety.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boxes
Verb
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Joe Rodon clips a pass over the top of the Brentford defence for Calvert-Lewin to contest.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The holder clips right to your pack or waders and keeps everything in a neat, easy-to-dispense stack.—
Francesca Krempa,
Outside,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The catcher receives the signal, checks his wrist band, then punches the command into his PitchCom.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Aeration can be done with a core aerator that punches shallow holes in the surface, or with a shovel or a rototiller that turns the soil more deeply.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The nonprofit holds a 26% stake, plus warrants if OpenAI hits certain valuation targets.—
Deepa Seetharaman,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Searchlight is in development on Lottery, a Permut Presentations drama about a young man with Down syndrome who, after winning the lottery, flees his estranged mother and hits the road with a charming new friend who has ulterior motives of her own.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At that house, no one answered a Statesman reporter’s knocks on Monday, but Davidson told the Statesman that his family owns the whole lot.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
-
For one thing, precedent says that Waddle’s production this fall should, health permitting (knocks on wood), just about double whatever numbers Cooper puts out as a rookie for the J-E-T-S in 2026.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The boy smacks him in the mouth and then immediately starts crying.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
An attack rears its ugly head, and the security team smacks it down.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Anderson slaps his hit down the right field line, just fair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
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At the end of the night, during the bows, Butler slaps the guys playing her two antagonists gently on their butts, a gesture that would have jarred in most stagings but fully in keeping with the inclusive, humanistic vibe of this production.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hudson’s character plays dirty and slams Ness’ hand at tipoff.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
On stage, Cameron Winter leads an overall enthralling performance, as the group slams out songs back-to-back with little to say in between; no shenanigans, just a top-notch show.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Boxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boxes. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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